In 1958, Chevrolet ditched the benign-sounding 150 and 210 nameplates for its lowest two series of automobiles. The Biscayne and Bel Air replaced them, and the Impala debuted at the top spot. Through 1975, the Biscayne was the barest of bare-bones full-size cars, which made the 4-door sedan popular for fleet use. But the folks who bought Biscayne 2-door sedans were probably just cheap. In beautiful condition and boasting just 12,000 miles, this 1962 Biscayne looks like a new car and can be found in O’Fallon, Illinois, and is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $32,500.
Options on this Chevy appear to be few. It has the standard 235 cubic inch inline-6 paired with a “3-on-the-tree” manual transmission. A 283 V8 and a Powerglide automatic could be ordered, but no such luck here. Dog-dish hub caps are where you’d find full wheel covers on a Bel Air or Impala. If this car has an AM radio, that might be its only extra.
The seller presents this as a 12,000-mile automobile. But who would buy one of these cars new 64 years ago, and basically do nothing with it? It wouldn’t surprise me if this is really 112,000 miles and the car has been beautifully restored. The body looks perfect, as does the tan paint and matching interior. The only adjectives used are that the Chevy is in “excellent condition” and it’s always been garaged.
This car’s lack of features may be its appeal. No one is going to spring 32 large for a base Biscayne like this to turn it into a restomod. That would be a shame because they’re only original once. Or in the case of this Chevy, maybe only restored once. What’s your take? And thanks for the discovery, T.J.!
By the looks of the seats and interior as well as the condition of the body and paint, 12,000 miles may be accurate.
Hagerty does not even list a ’62 Biscayne with a 6-cylinder. Their closest match has a 283 V-8. That V-8 car, in concours condition, has a value of $19,300, some 13K less than the subject car.
This certainly looks like it was transported in time directly from an “OK” Used Chevrolet dealer car lot from 1964. Literally it looks like it was carefully used for 2 years and then stored away somewhere for 62 years. Russ raises the big question, why was this base model 6 cylinder stick shift Chevy so well preserved all these years? I’d like to know. Rex already did the price research, it’s way too high. But then, where on earth would you find another one so well preserved? I do hope someone buys it and enjoys it. And keeps it the way it is now, right down to the 6 and a stick.
My Uncle had a 1963 Ford Galaxie sedan for over 30 years. Even put the plastic seat covers on. That thing looked mint. His employer let him drive the company truck home. Basically only used the Galaxie to go to church.
My Missisdippi grandfather (my Dad’s dad) had almost this exact car. Only difference in my grandfather’s car was that it had a PowerGlide and mud grip tires on the rear. My grandparents were livestock farmers and my grandfather wasn’t a fan of pickup trucks so his Biscayne was his “truck”. He was no nonsense/no frills. My parents had the Ford dealership in town and my dad’s sister and her husband had the Chevrolet dealership so, to keep the peace, my dad kept their mother in top of the line full sized Fords and his sister kept their dad in his choice of full sized economy Chevrolets! This is a cool looking car and brings back some fond memories.
What stick??
The one on the column.
Looks like a radio plug. No radio
Beautiful car, but…it does not look like a license plate has ever been bolted to either front or back pan the tear on the driver side front seat is odd, the chrome garnish on the windshield dogleg on the driver side is wonky, the hood seems a little bulged midway on the passenger side.
Having said that, I cannot imagine someone doing a resto and keeping the generator.
Nice car, just too much $$$
The drivers door is out of alignment, and the hood isn’t sitting right on the passenger side by the hinge. A couple of other things in the door make me think that this may have had an accident at some point. Regardless, nice looking but not 32K nice looking.
To me something looks off about those photos. Slightly out of focus on some and others look “different”. Maybe they ran them through an AI filter.
Could one clue if the car is original would be the headlights. Those T3 units?
Good catch on those T3’s but they are being re-produced……what bothers me is the color of the engine – valve cover and intake/exhaust….is that overspray or my eyes ?
The oil grease around the valve cover bolts and the radiator condition tell a story beyond 12k.
Very nice automobile. It’s just way to expensive.
If that interior is original then I believe the low mileage claim. Those cloth interiors never looked that good after 100,000 miles. I have seen first hand some really low mileage cars driven by “little old ladies” and after years of many short trips they don’t always hold up so good. About the only thing I see as an option is maybe a heater, (were they still an option in ’62?). And Russ I don’t mean to be picky but in ’58 the Impala was an option on the Belair, Biscayne was the middle and bringing up the rear (for only ’58) was the Delray.
My aunt had a ’63 Biscayne just about like this one–down to the tan paint and interior. Only her car had a radio and a heater and
set of WSW tires she bought at Clay Dooley tire when the black walls finally wore out. Used to ride in that thing every Friday night I visited my cousin and play
poker with them and some of the neighbor kids who’d stop by and
play a few hands with us. My aunt was a no nonsense lady who
took no guff from anyone and the
Biscayne fit her personality. I used to pester her to sell it to me
and she always said no. She knew I wanted to swap in a 427/
M-22 rock crusher 4-speed into it
so I could have the baddest car in town. I got back from my first summer tour in 1970 to find out that the car was totaled when a drunk driver hit it while it was parked in front of her house. I finally did get a Biscayne of my own just after I got home from that road trip by winning a ’60 Chevy 2-door wagon in a poker game at my aunt’s house a week
or so later. And now for this car.
Ed, you’re more than welcome to
Join us here and explain to us WHY we should pay $32K for your car when we can buy one for
much less than your asking price.
Oh sure, it might not be as nice as what you’re selling, but I can
build one for $15K or less. Could’ve bought a good builder that ran and drove for $800 5 years ago but passed on it to take care of family business. And while you’re at it, bring some
of that stuff you’re smokin with you. It must be REALLY prime stuff for you to ask that much for
a plain Jane like this.
if is like presented maybe a museum would buy it for 18K
“In 1958, Chevrolet ditched the benign-sounding 150 and 210 nameplates for its lowest two series of automobiles. The Biscayne and Bel Air replaced them, and the Impala debuted at the top spot.”
Uh, no. The 150 was replaced by the Delray in ’58 while the Biscayne replaced the 210. The Bel Air was still the top series and included the two Impala models. In ’59, the Impala became the top series, the Bel Air and Biscayne were each moved down a notch and the Delray name was dropped.
My classmates folks drove a 63 Biscayne wagon, bronze. It had the rear cargo fold down seat that faced the rear. My friends mom drove us to lots of basketball and soccer games in grammar school in San Francisco in the mid sixties.
The 62 Biscayne AND Bel air had dog dish hubcaps standard, not just the Biscayne. Only the Impala had full wheel covers.
I love cars like this. This Biscayne would be exactly what I would have bought in 62, just in a smaller size like a Chevy II and with the 4 cylinder.
My own 63 Valiant came from the factory with just a radio and a heater. Not even whitewalls and it was a Signet 2 door hardtop. Probably ordered like that to drive showroom traffic and pump the “nicely equipped 2 door hardtop for just $XXXX” angle in the Sunday newspaper ads.
At any rate it has set the template for every car I have purchased over the last 45 years.
What a treat, though. Beautiful car. Perfectly optioned to my mind…
$32.5 thousand? Testing the waters? Does the seller want to sell it or dust it?
My first car was a 61 Biscayne, 4 door, 6cyl, 3 on the tree, no radio. Dad traded two used snow tires for it in 1970. He told me if I mounted and balanced the tires the 61 was mine. Oh, unlike this car, mine had LOTS of rust!
We can always wish to capture the maximum price for our classics, however reason, not emotion need to prevail here.
Fun, basic original car, which will required some suspension refresh (sag, etc.) with a “bulletproof” powertain.
Its minimal mileage, can be an issue in and at itself with seals drying out, excessive acidic accumulation in the engine, and moisture in the exhaust.
“They are worth what someone is willing to pay for it”. Candidly, if the seller can acheive $15-17K they will have done very well, and someone will have a very fun car to “chase” while they drive it..
looks like a really nice survivor. it would be nice if there is proof of the low miles other than odometer pic. paint and interior could pass for 12k. why is the motor blue when should be orange? need more info and proof for $32k price. car is cool and should be left as it is.
1962 Chevrolet Blue Flame 6 was blue. Perhaps the last year of blue.
The headliner looks like it was replaced with something velvety and the mirror is square, which isn’t correct.
It could be the photos, but the paint looks like it doesn’t match. The top surfaces and the pillars look different. Maybe a partial respray at some point on the patina’d areas.
First thing I noticed was the square Western Auto mirror. It sticks out like a sore thumb.
That’s where I started questioning the mileage. Other comments make me question it more.
Needs a 409 4speed. Sleeper look.
Asking price Way to high.
Boy, this thing is sanitary, to say the least but it is way overpriced, and I do mean WAY overpriced! For me, it conjurers up memories of a car I lusted after in ’66 when I was at the tender age of 16.
It was an exact twin to this in absolutely every respect except for the drivetrain. That little darlin’ had a 365 horse 327, M21 4 speed, Eaton posi w/4:11s, and a 10 grand Super Sun strapped to the column. It was for sale on a little hígh performance car lot that I passed by everyday on my way to and from school and I wanted that car in the worst way.
The last year of the venerable “Stovebolt 6” 235 in a Chevy sedan. It began its journey in 1929 models. That’s a pretty good run by anyone’s standards. My first car – 4 door 55 Chevy 210 – had the same drivetrain as this. 235 with a 3 on the tree. It was not sexy – but you almost couldn’t kill it. By the way – the character of both the engine and the car is completely transformed if you lose the 3 speed manual and drop in a 4 speed Muncie wide ratio transmission.
Bottom line is FUN to reminisce old times, my favorite was a 1956 Chrysler New Yorker love hat car, my second was a 1962 Impala SS light blue super clean great memories!
Nice clean Chevy here just leave it be.
Hard to find….and in this shape. They can ask what they want for it. You can take an old ’62 and do a daily driver update to it and spend 20K, with interior, body, and paint. Then there is the mechanical work. If this is a 12K car it’s ready to drive. Most 6’s and manuals had 3:70 gears so if you were on the interstate it would be a slow ride…..nice.
Engine bay is more than just lacking a good cleaning. Radiator looks about to drain itself, valve covers soaked in oil, overall beat up condition doesn’t scream 12k. Headliner appears to have been kinda cleaned? Heavy stains on drivers seat back not helping the ask price. Drivers fender fitment is atrocious compared to passenger perfect alignment. 5 decades in the business and my thoughts are it’s a pretty decent repaint, but not a 12k mile car.
yup 62 was last year for the blue 235 engine,one of chevs tuffest 6’s.,and paired with a 3spd instead of power robbing fluid coupling (power glide ),was ok power….40-60 oil press,dont see the by pass oi filter on this one,shoud be there,jus next to and slightly lower than the carb. Also last year for rope packing as the rear main seal
I LOVE it! The real problem is the 6 cylinder, you don’t wanna change it because it’s sooooo original but….. It’s a great car for someone else to have!
Yes, the last year for the 235 6 cylinder AND the generator. I had the ’63 version of this car. Same body and options except mine had the slip and slid power glide. Mine also had the “new” ( for “B” body cars) 230 engine. Mine had 3.55 gears from the factory. I borrowd a pumpkin from a friend for the weekend that I went to US 30 Dragway in Indiana. It had 4.10 gears and I won 1st place in the “big car 6 cylinder class”. I think my time was 17:68 in the quarter. I gave my buddy back his pumpkin along with the trophy! It was the first car that I owned that I “leagally” drove on the highway. (actually this was my 4th vehicle and I bought it when I was 15 and drove it home) When I bought the car I was always going to install a bored out 283 with a 300 horse 327 cam that I had rebuilt in my basement when I was 14. I was not my Mom’s favorite kid when I used a tow chain to drag it up out of the basement with the ’63. It was on a skid that I built. And it was a direct shot out the side door. But the skid did no favors to the steps! Only about 5 months of the 283 in the ’63 until I found a ’55 BelAir convert with a used up engine. Then the ’63 was sold.
Beautiful. my 62 is a 4 door and a Bel Air, but all original with a Stove bolt and 3 on the tree like this one. This one was taken good care of too.